General

Cheri DiNovo – Special Guest Speaker at Meet U @ The Zoom Room

February 23, 2022

Join us on Wednesday February 23rd at 10:30am on Zoom for a special Meet U @ The Zoom Room speaker event hosted by the Leaside United Affirming Team featuring dynamic speaker, Cheri DiNovo.

More about Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, C.M.
Performed first legalized same sex marriage in Canada. Passed more LGBTQ Bills into law than anyone in Canadian history as MPP in Ontario 2006-2017. Order of Canada winner and of many other Awards including the Lambda In Washington DC for her first book “Qu(e)erying Evangelism” . Author of two books, her latest “The Queer Evangelist” Now Minister at Trinity St Paul’s Centre for Faith Justice and the Arts

Her recent book The Queer Evangelist is available from https://anotherstory.ca/ Another Story Bookshop.

All welcome and invite a friend.

Please share the Zoom link with a friend.

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88398757927?pwd=RUtiMm9GVzVpK1pEVmgvM3BGUUdRQT09
Meeting ID: 883 9875 7927
Passcode: 666497

Phone In:

For those phoning please:

  1. Dial either phone number: 647-558-0588 or 647-374-4685
  2. Put in the Meeting ID number: 883 9875 7927
  3. Put in the Password number: 666497
  4. If asked for a participant ID, just press #
  5. Unmute your phone by pressing *6

Healing Series: Love – January 30, 2022

January 30, 2022

You may have noticed last week that the livestream was not as smooth as usual. It seems we are in the midst of a new round of tech challenges, and to try to have the best worship experience possible we are shifting the timing slightly this week in order to record the service and then share it rather than livestream.

For those on Zoom, we expect that the service will begin 10 minutes or so later than the usual 10:30am. You are invited to come at the same time, and begin our post-worship conversation time before worship.

For those on YouTube, we estimate that the video processing will be done by 11:30am. You might consider joining Zoom if you’d like to be as close to 10:30am as possible, or consider planning an intentional afternoon worship time this week.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to negotiate the new A/V system for this renovation. It has certainly been a bumpy road with highs and lows over the fall and winter.

Today we begin a Healing Series, which will fall on the last Sundays of each month. We begin by hearing the words of 1 Corinthians 13, and reflecting on the relationship between love and healing.

Our music includes a beautiful new hymn “When the wind of winter blows” and the anthem “Irish Blessing” by Bob Chilcott. Our final hymn “Love is the touch” will be followed by the sung blessing “May God’s Sheltering wings.” We hope you will find moments of healing and renewal in this week’s words and music.

Next Sunday
Then, on February 6 we will mark the beginning of Black History Month, including with two anthems “How Can I keep from singing?” live and the virtual choir recording of “Hymn to Freedom.”

YouTube Playlists
We have updated our Small Spiritual Practices playlist with all of our small spiritual practices this month: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5eCVktVqxmrnx1E_jmeTLc
I invite you to see if you can think of one person who might appreciate one of these practices, and share it with them.

Other Playlists include…
Music Highlights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC7_E9riqoJ9Bl_G5DGEy3vO
Worship Services: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC6BMZjDwoF1cBV9W2s1Nov1
Stories and Makers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfuCu94bEGC5nx6z8eLSsJSn8qkphfxsw

Leaside United on YouTube

Fred Fox – Special Guest Speaker at Meet U @ The Zoom Room

February 9, 2022

Join us on Wednesday February 9th at 10:30am on Zoom for a special Meet U @ The Zoom Room speaker event with renowned speaker Fred Fox on behalf of his brother and the Terry Fox Foundation.

More about Fred Fox:
Fred Fox never imagined that he would take part in one of the most inspiring stories in Canadian history when he watched his brother Terry set out on his Marathon of Hope in April of 1980. He had the opportunity to join Terry a couple of times on the road that summer and watch as Canadians embraced his brother in a remarkable way. Fred’s commitment to Terry’s cancer research legacy never wavered, leading the Terry Fox Foundation’s BC Office from 1994 to 2001 and then moving to the National Office in 2009 to serve as Manager of Supporter Relations.

All welcome to hear how Fred supports cancer research and continued dedication to his brother’s legacy. Please share the Zoom link with a friend.

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88398757927?pwd=RUtiMm9GVzVpK1pEVmgvM3BGUUdRQT09
Meeting ID: 883 9875 7927
Passcode: 666497

Phone In:

For those phoning please:

  1. Dial either phone number: 647-558-0588 or 647-374-4685
  2. Put in the Meeting ID number: 883 9875 7927
  3. Put in the Password number: 666497
  4. If asked for a participant ID, just press #
  5. Unmute your phone by pressing *6

Reaching out to our unhoused neighbours

January 26, 2022
Photo used with permission by Rev. Stephen Milton, January 20th Demonstration downtown Toronto

It’s cold out there!

The mix of the Omicron surge, frigid winter temperatures, and a lack of adequate beds to shelter those affected by the mounting housing crisis, is affecting our most vulnerable, the unhoused. This month, the city’s shelter intake ‘crashed’ turning people out into the streets. What is needed? 

Emergency Survival Supplies: for those on the streets and in encampments

Organizations providing outreach are looking for tents, winter sleeping bags, warm gloves, winter boots, winter coats, hoodies, etc. LUC COVID Relief funds have gone towards such purchases this month; hoodies and sweatpants were delivered to Eastminster’s Out of the Cold, and survival supplies to Sanctuary, one of the downtown distribution depots. Donating to this fund is one way you can help, as disbursements to meet needs of food and shelter insecurity are ongoing. The church will not be collecting items at this time. If you have suitable items to donate, please contact Emily or me for information on drop off locations.

Immediate Pressure on the City

The Shelter and Housing Justice Network has identified core demands of the city for additional protection and services such as more warming centres, opening these at higher temperatures, a moratorium on encampment evictions during this crisis, expanded overdose prevention within the shelters, and demands relating to COVID / infection control.  Dozens and dozens of organizations, including members of Faith in the City, have joined together, through rallies, letters, and press releases, in a united plea for the city to respond.   

In the Longer Term

As faithful Christians we should be part of the bigger solution. How can we be an informed voice, working towards justice with partners and all levels of government, in how we frame sharing lands and space to ensure a safe home and community for all.  

Sheila Lacroix
on behalf of Leaside United

Note: If you are connected with real estate, development, or other work that relates to housing in our city, and would be interested in being part of a larger conversation about what we can do towards housing solutions in our city with the North Toronto Cluster of Churches, please contact Emily Gordon (emily@leasideuc.com)